Americans with Disabilites Act Parking

The University Park Campus of The Pennsylvania State University has taken every opportunity to make the campus accessible to drivers and passengers with disabilities. Regular and van accessible parking spaces exist on campus to meet the needs of visitors, students and faculty/staff members. CATA's Loop and Link campus transit service, as well as the Campus Shuttle operated by Transportation Services, each provide accessible transportation across campus.

There are two different signs (Figures A and B) designating open (non-metered) accessible parking spaces on campus:

Figure A
Designates a space that is open to anyone with a state issued accessible parking placard or license plate and the appropriate Penn State parking permit.

Figure B
Designates a space that is reserved for a specific permit holder and is specified by permit number on the sign. That space is not to be used by anyone other than the specific permit holder at any time.

Figure A

Figure B

PARKING OPTIONS FOR VISITORS WITH DISABILITIES

Two options are available for visitors with a state-issued accessible parking placard or license plate to campus during normal business hours (M-F; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
NOTE: Some lots require permits after 5 p.m. After the posted reserved hours, no PSU permit is required for parking.

Option 1

Any designated accessible parking meters (provided time is on the meter). No Penn State One Day Permit required for this option.

In addition to a state-issued accessible parking placard or license plate, a valid Penn State One Day Permit MUST be displayed for option 2, a visitor can purchase a Penn State One Day Permit from either the Parking Office at 1 Eisenhower Parking Deck, any of the Information Booths on campus, or the Centre County/Penn State Visitor Center.

Option 2

Any campus lot or deck (with the exception of the reserved student lots). Please note: If an accessible space is not available, you may use any open legal parking space except for those individual spaces within each lot specifically reserved by a sign.

Figure C
is an example of a non-ADA-accessible reserved space. These spaces are found in most lots on campus, so be sure to pay specific attention to the signage within the lots.

Figure C

Disabled persons (temporary or permanent)

Transportation Services offers a campus-wide, ADA compliant, mass transit system. In most cases, transit services will provide closer access to destination than appropriate parking spaces. Schedule information for CATA's Loop and Link service and the University's Campus Shuttle is available online and at the Parking Office.

Individuals who require access to marked accessible parking spaces must apply for a state-issued accessible parking placard. Applications and information are available from the Parking Office, 1 Eisenhower Parking Deck. Penn State is NOT authorized to issue accessible parking placards. All accessible parking placards, permanent or temporary, must be obtained through the state. Both the ADA placard and the appropriate PSU parking permit must be displayed.

Temporary Disability(ies). According to the Americans With Disabilities Act, “temporary, non-chronic impairments that do not last for a long time and that have little or no long term impact (e.g., broken limbs, sprains, concussions) are usually not disabilities.

Faculty/Staff members possessing a current Person with Disability Registration Plate or Parking Placard must also display a lot appropriate permit for the location in which they are parking. Faculty/Staff members who are engaging in official business away from their home unit may park in a core lot with an open staff permit. However, regular use of a core area with an open staff permit may result in the revocation or all parking privileges. There are a few ADA parking spaces that are reserved for specific individuals and are identified by the individuals parking permit number on the sign. Only the person to whom that space is currently assigned may use that space. Should all ADA spaces in a lot be filled, a vehicle bearing the appropriate Penn State permit and a state issued ADA plate or placard may park in any regular space that is not restricted by signs or meters in that lot.

Students possessing a current Person with Disability Registration Plate or Parking Placard must also display a base student Penn State permit and a core area upgrade permit. There may be an extra charge for the core area permit. Rates are based on lot value and a student will have to pay the difference between their student permit and the lot value if the lot value is greater than the student permit value. Should all ADA spaces in a lot be filled, a vehicle bearing the appropriate Penn State permit and a state issued ADA plate or placard may park in any regular space that is not restricted by signs or meters in that lot.